King James Version
Numbers 31:40 in the King James Version says “And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons.” — study this verse from Numbers chapter 31 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons.”
Numbers 31:40 · KJV
And the beeves were thirty and six thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was threescore and twelve .
And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred; of which the LORD'S tribute was threescore and one.
And the persons were sixteen thousand; of which the LORD'S tribute was thirty and two persons.
And Moses gave the tribute, which was the LORD'S heave offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the LORD commanded Moses.
And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred,
KJV Study — Public Domain
“persons”
H5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
“And the persons”
H120ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
“were sixteen”
H8337six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
“thousand”
H505hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
“of which the LORD'S”
H3068(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
“persons”
H5315properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
This verse is found in the book of Numbers. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Numbers 31:40 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.